Miss Applegate, 21, from Great Yarmouth, said: “I’ve lived in Norfolk all my life. I’m backing Norfolk Day because everyone in Norfolk has always supported me no matter what it is: always, everything, anything.”

She added: “There’s a big community spirit around Norfolk where businesses help each other and support their communities.”

When Miss Applegate lost her funding, she said she would have had to retire if it were not for the people of Norfolk supporting her.

Miss Applegate added: “I hope it continues year on year, there’s no reason not to celebrate it. We’ve got all great things here in Norfolk. We’ve got everything. We’ve got support from people, woods, the seaside, rivers, everything. Everything on our doorstep. Our county should be celebrated, it’s a lovely part of the country. It’s not a very known part and people don’t venture here.”